FAQ: What is MFC?

[Hydro]

I am learning c++ (doing very good).

I hear abouty MFC. Can somone please explain what that is and what it is used for...

Thank you

[-KEN-]

MFC is the Microsoft Foundation Classes. It's a wrapper to the Windows API, which allows you to create windowed (GUI) programs under MS Windows. It's used by C++'ers to :cough:cheat:cough: their way around using the API. I'm sure a search on google would yeild a better explaination.

[Robert602]

MFC allows development of applications much faster and easier than the API, although a degree of understanding of the API is needed to use it. MFC is good for large applications that would otherwise take a long time and a lot of code in API, or for things which interface with databases etc. The disadvantages of MFC are that it makes slower and bigger apps, largely because M$ invented it and it's just their way.

In an ideal world everything would be API, but development would take a lot longer. (actually in an ideal world we would all use Linux)

So to some up

It's used by C++'ers to :cough:cheat:cough: their way around using the API

MFC, as -Ken- has *coughed* ( ) is Microsoft Foundation Classes and requires ms visual c++.

It's just a class library and any c++ class library that is well written can improve development time in the right hands. But there is always a steep learning curve involved in their use. So that's one trade-off: the time it takes you to learn the class library fns etc. Another downside of using MFC or other class library as they usually enforce a particular way of doing things that may not suit everyone. Finally their is the factor of code bloat - and use of MFC is VERY guilty of this.

There are many class libraries available. Some are free. An excellent free class libray to take a look at is VXCL (the virtual X class library):

http://www.toddtown.com/

Not only is this library free it's also cross platform ie works on UNIX/linux.

Some folks recommend learning and using API first; the advantage being that if a class library fails to offer what you need you can always drop back to the API for a solution.

My personal feelings are: use whatever you are most comfortable with. And MFC sucks.

[genghis]

MFC was invented by microsoft to keep their programmers dumb.

[Shiro]

>MFC was invented by microsoft to keep their programmers dumb.

Ah, I see. And who did write the MFC?

[Robert602]

>Ah, I see. And who did write the MFC?

Good point.

so,who creates all the class library? i meant who invented it?
i am just curious to know it.......why u said mfc makes the programmers dumb? is it because...all the function is avaiable for the programmers.
see yeah

[adrianxw]

>>> makes the programmers dumb?

MFC does not make programmers dumb. If anyone believes this to be true, then they can simply choose not to use it!

For a start, it is not necessary to use MFC, anything you can do in MFC you can do with the API, simply because MFC is just a wrapper around the API.

MFC is just Microsoft's class library, (there are others, Borland's VCL for example). It enables people who like/need to work with class libraries the capability of doing so. Some employers insist on using it, therefore MFC skills are of use. Generally, on "grey box" type applications, the development time is shorter.

Where MFC starts to break down is when you want to do some of the more sophisticated thing Windows is capable of doing. With some fooling around, you can make MFC do some of these things, but generally the API is more obviously the correct tool.

Use it or not. Your choice. I choose not too, others I work with do.

[Hydro]

move to faq board *cough*